Seasonal flight and resource collection patterns of colonies of the stingless bee Melipona bicolor schencki Gribodo (Apidae, Meliponini) in an Araucaria forest area in southern Brazil

Melipona bicolor schencki occurs in southern Brazil and at high elevations in southeastern Brazil. It has potential for use in meliponiculture but this stingless bee species is vulnerable to extinction and we have little knowledge about its ecology. In order to gather essential information for species conservation and management, we made a study of seasonal flight activities in its natural environment. We sampled bees entering the nests with pollen, nectar/water and resin/mud, in five colonies during each season. In parallel, we analyzed the influence of hour of the day and meteorological factors on flight activity. Flights were most intense during spring and summer, with daily mean estimates of 2,100 and 2,333 flights respectively, while in fall and winter the daily flight estimate was reduced to 612 and 1,104 flights, respectively. Nectar and water were the most frequently-collected resources, followed by pollen and building materials. This preference occurred in all seasons, but with variations in intensity. During spring, daily flight activity lasted over 14 hours; this period was reduced in the other seasons, reaching eight hours in winter. Meteorological factors were associated with 40.2% of the variation in flight and resource collection activity. Apparently, other factors that we did not measure, such as colony needs and availability of floral resources, also strongly influence the intensity of resource collection.

Metais pesados em solos de área de rejeitos de indústria de processamento de zinco

Apesar de a poluição do solo ser amplamente constatada, estudos sobre as concentrações e formas dos metais pesados em solos e seus efeitos no ecossistema são ainda pouco enfatizados, principalmente em condições tropicais. O presente estudo foi desenvolvido em área de rejeitos de uma unidade de extração e industrialização de zinco pertencente à Companhia Mineira de Metais-CMM, em Três Marias (MG), com o objetivo de avaliar as quantidades e formas de metais pesados em sete locais representativos da área. Os locais foram selecionados para amostragem, baseando-se em diferenças na forma de contaminação, aspectos de solo, topografia e vegetação. Realizaram-se análises químicas de fracionamento de metais pesados e extrações simples com DTPA e Mehlich-1, buscando determinar os teores e formas dos metais na superfície e em profundidade e fazer inferências sobre o potencial de risco ambiental desses metais. Os teores totais dos metais nas camadas superficiais dos locais estudados foram, em média, de: 13.533 mg kg-1, para Zn; 170 mg kg-1, para Cd; 865 mg kg-1, para Cu, e 612 mg kg-1, para Pb, enquanto os teores trocáveis (MgCl2) nessas mesmas camadas variaram de 231 a 1.407 mg kg-1, para Zn; 14 a 390 mg kg-1, para Cd, e 11 a 33 mg kg-1, para Pb; o Cu raramente ocorreu nesta forma. Os solos dos locais estudados, com teores excessivos de Zn, Cd, Cu e Pb, são considerados poluídos. Em determinados locais contaminados por escoamento (superficial e subsuperficial) e arraste de material de solo e rejeito, a poluição mostrou-se mais evidente nas camadas superficiais. No local da ustulação, verificou-se maior percentagem de Zn trocável em todos os níveis de profundidade. Nos demais locais, o Cd apresentou também grandes concentrações nas formas trocáveis, razão por que tal elemento oferece maior risco de contaminação ambiental. De modo geral, a ocorrência de Zn foi maior nas formas carbonato e residual, enquanto o Cd predominou nas formas trocáveis e o Cu e Pb nas formas residuais. A extração dos metais por Mehlich-1 e DTPA correlacionou-se significativamente com a soma das extrações com MgCl2 e NaOAc do fracionamento, para praticamente todos os elementos analisados. Por essa razão, recomendam-se futuros estudos com aqueles extratores em termos de mensuração de metais potencialmente disponíveis ao ambiente.

Surface mapping, organic matter and water stocks in peatlands of the Serra do Espinhaço meridional - Brazil

Peatlands are soil environments that store carbon and large amounts of water, due to their composition (90 % water), low hydraulic conductivity and a sponge-like behavior. It is estimated that peat bogs cover approximately 4.2 % of the Earth's surface and stock 28.4 % of the soil carbon of the planet. Approximately 612 000 ha of peatlands have been mapped in Brazil, but the peat bogs in the Serra do Espinhaço Meridional (SdEM) were not included. The objective of this study was to map the peat bogs of the northern part of the SdEM and estimate the organic matter pools and water volume they stock. The peat bogs were pre-identified and mapped by GIS and remote sensing techniques, using ArcGIS 9.3, ENVI 4.5 and GPS Track Maker Pro software and the maps validated in the field. Six peat bogs were mapped in detail (1:20,000 and 1:5,000) by transects spaced 100 m and each transect were determined every 20 m, the UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) coordinates, depth and samples collected for characterization and determination of organic matter, according to the Brazilian System of Soil Classification. In the northern part of SdEM, 14,287.55 ha of peatlands were mapped, distributed over 1,180,109 ha, representing 1.2 % of the total area. These peatlands have an average volume of 170,021,845.00 m³ and stock 6,120,167 t (428.36 t ha-1) of organic matter and 142,138,262 m³ (9,948 m³ ha-1) of water. In the peat bogs of the Serra do Espinhaço Meridional, advanced stages of decomposing (sapric) organic matter predominate, followed by the intermediate stage (hemic). The vertical growth rate of the peatlands ranged between 0.04 and 0.43 mm year-1, while the carbon accumulation rate varied between 6.59 and 37.66 g m-2 year-1. The peat bogs of the SdEM contain the headwaters of important water bodies in the basins of the Jequitinhonha and San Francisco Rivers and store large amounts of organic carbon and water, which is the reason why the protection and preservation of these soil environments is such an urgent and increasing need.

Public-domain software for root image analysis

In the search for high efficiency in root studies, computational systems have been developed to analyze digital images. ImageJ and Safira are public-domain systems that may be used for image analysis of washed roots. However, differences in root properties measured using ImageJ and Safira are supposed. This study compared values of root length and surface area obtained with public-domain systems with values obtained by a reference method. Root samples were collected in a banana plantation in an area of a shallower Typic Carbonatic Haplic Cambisol (CXk), and an area of a deeper Typic Haplic Ta Eutrophic Cambisol (CXve), at six depths in five replications. Root images were digitized and the systems ImageJ and Safira used to determine root length and surface area. The line-intersect method modified by Tennant was used as reference; values of root length and surface area measured with the different systems were analyzed by Pearson's correlation coefficient and compared by the confidence interval and t-test. Both systems ImageJ and Safira had positive correlation coefficients with the reference method for root length and surface area data in CXk and CXve. The correlation coefficient ranged from 0.54 to 0.80, with lowest value observed for ImageJ in the measurement of surface area of roots sampled in CXve. The IC (95 %) revealed that root length measurements with Safira did not differ from that with the reference method in CXk (-77.3 to 244.0 mm). Regarding surface area measurements, Safira did not differ from the reference method for samples collected in CXk (-530.6 to 565.8 mm²) as well as in CXve (-4231 to 612.1 mm²). However, measurements with ImageJ were different from those obtained by the reference method, underestimating length and surface area in samples collected in CXk and CXve. Both ImageJ and Safira allow an identification of increases or decreases in root length and surface area. However, Safira results for root length and surface area are closer to the results obtained with the reference method.

Genetic linkage maps of 'Pêra' sweet orange and 'Cravo' mandarin with RAPD markers

The objective of this work was to construct linkage maps of 'Pêra' sweet orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] and 'Cravo' mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) using RAPD markers and the pseudo-testcross strategy. The parents were chosen according to the resistance/susceptibility to citrus variegate chlorosis (CVC). The segregation of 176 markers was analyzed in 94 progeny of F1 hybrids, which were obtained from controlled crossings. The linkage map of 'Pêra' sweet orange had 117 markers defined by 12 linkage groups, which spanned 612.1 cM. Only six markers could not be linked to the linkage group and 48.7% of the markers showed segregation distortion. The linkage map of 'Cravo' mandarin had 51 markers defined by 12 linkage groups, which spanned 353.3 cM. Only two markers did not link to the groups and 15.7% showed segregation distortion. The construction of linkage maps is relevant to future mapping studies of the inheritance of CVC, citrus canker and leprosis.

Ecology and the challenge of a multifunctional use of soil

Soil zoology and soil ecology have become very active fields of research since the early 1990s. A search in the ISI Web of Science databases showed a steady increase in publications about that theme over the last two decades, and 3,612 bibliographic references were found for that theme for the period of 2004 to 2008. The researches covered mostly soil environmental issues, toxicology and ecology. The issue of theoretical development in soil ecology is discussed, and arguments are presented against the idea that the soil ecology theory is deficient. Finally, the need for a general model of soil function and soil management is discussed and some options are presented to reach this goal.

Dosimetria de pacientes e médicos em intervenções coronárias percutâneas em Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil

OBJETIVO: Este trabalho teve como objetivo estimar os valores de doses de radiação recebidas por médicos e pacientes em procedimentos intervencionistas cardíacos realizados em um hospital público na cidade de Recife, Pernambuco. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: As medidas foram determinadas em 31 pacientes adultos, dos quais 22 tiveram acompanhamento clínico após o procedimento, e em dois cardiologistas com mais de dez anos de experiência. Parâmetros de irradiação para cada procedimento foram registrados. RESULTADOS: Os valores obtidos para a dose absorvida máxima na pele do paciente variaram entre 612 e 8.642 mGy, sendo que 53% foram maiores que 2.000 mGy, valores estes que podem causar efeitos determinísticos. Com relação aos médicos, a dose efetiva média por procedimento foi de 11 µSv e os valores médios do equivalente de dose nas extremidades, mais altos, foram: 923 µSv no pé esquerdo, 514 µSv no pé direito, 382 µSv na mão esquerda e 150 µSv no olho esquerdo. Dependendo do número de procedimentos, as doses recebidas pelos médicos podem exceder os valores limites de doses estabelecidos pelas normas nacionais e internacionais. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados obtidos sinalizam a necessidade de adoção de estratégias para otimização da proteção radiológica tanto de pacientes quanto de médicos.

Determinação e distribuição de ácido ascórbico em três frutos tropicais

O método clássico iodimétrico foi utilizado para determinação de ácido ascórbico (AA) nos frutos araçá (Eugenia sp.), acerola (Malphigia sp.) e laranja (Citrus sinenses). Os frutos coletados foram classificados como verdes, verde- amarelados ou amarelos conforme a cor superficial. Os frutos foram levados ao laboratório e resfriados para minimizar a oxidação de AA. Os teores determinados de AA para o araçá evidenciaram que há uma gradiente de concentração entre as partes superior e inferior dos frutos, sendo a concentração em C2 (concentração de ácido ascórbico na parte inferior do fruto) sempre maior que a concentração em C1 (concentração de ácido ascórbico na parte superior do fruto ligada ao pedúnculo). Comportamento semelhante também foi observado para acerolas e laranjas, que apresentaram uma concentração média na parte superior de 17,7 mg g-1 e 0,612 mg L-1 e na parte inferior 19,6 mg g-1 e 0,665 mg L-1, respectivamente. Pelos resultados obtidos pode-se concluir que os três frutos apresentam uma distribuição heterogênea de AA e essa variação é mais pronunciada para frutos verdes, i.e. frutos menos adequados para consumo.

Water requirement and yield of fig trees under different drip irrigation management

This work aimed to study the effect of drip irrigation management on growth and yield of the 'Roxo de Valinhos' fig tree (Ficus carica L.), at three years old, and to determine crop coefficients (Kc) and its water requirement (ETc) under Baixada Fluminense climate and soil conditions, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The study was carried out in the experimental area of SIPA (Sistema Integrado de Produção Agroecológica) in Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro State, from July 2011 to May 2012. The experimental area was divided in two blocks, named B1 (sandy clay loam texture) and B2 (loamy sand texture). In each block, irrigation frequencies (IF) of two (T1) and four days (T2) were evaluated, as well as the irrigation absence (T3). Irrigation management and water consumption determination were performed through the soil water balance, using the TDR technique. Plant growth was not affected by IF, differing only in the number of produced internodes. For both soil textures, the mean Kc was 0.60, with a significant difference (p<0.05) only for IF. The estimated mean yield showed no significant differences between both textural classes, ranging from 6,612 kg ha-1 (T3) to 8,554 kg ha-1 (T1). This study indicates the importance of irrigation frequency in the irrigation management of fig trees cultivated in soils with different physical characteristics.

Tratamento local do carcinoma hepatocelular como ponte para o transplante hepático

OBJETIVO: Analisar os resultados da terapia local pré-operatória em pacientes portadores de carcinoma hepatocelular submetidos a transplante hepático. MÉTODOS: . Foram analisados os prontuários dos pacientes adultos submetidos a transplante hepático cadavérico e intervivos no Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná no período entre janeiro de 2002 e agosto de 2007. Foram incluídos no estudo os portadores de cirrose hepática e carcinoma hepatocelular diagnosticado pelos critérios da EASL (European Association for the Study of the Liver). Foram analisados o número e o diâmetro dos nódulos neoplásicos antes e após a terapia local e na análise do explante, o número de sessões de terapia local e sua duração. Após o estabelecimento do diagnóstico de carcinoma hepatocelular os pacientes foram submetidos à terapia local com alcoolização. RESULTADOS: Foram analisados 22 pacientes portadores de 31 nódulos neoplásicos com diâmetro médio de 28,8±12 mm. Após as sessões de terapia local foram detectados 29 nódulos neoplásicos com diâmetro médio de 24,6±12 mm, sem diferença em relação ao observado antes do tratamento e todos dentro dos critérios de Milão. Foram realizados 17 transplantes cadavéricos e cinco transplantes intervivos. A análise do explante demonstrou seis casos fora dos critérios de Milão. Dezesseis casos estavam dentro dos critérios de Milão com 14 nódulos neoplásicos com diâmetro médio de 30±14 mm, sem diferença em relação ao observado no diagnóstico e após a terapia local. CONCLUSÃO: A terapia local para o carcinoma hepatocelular com alcoolização e quimioembolização permitiu o controle parcial da evolução da doença considerando-se os critérios de Milão em pacientes em lista de espera para transplante hepático. Ocorreram diferenças significativas em relação aos critérios de Milão entre os exames de imagem pré-operatórios e a análise do explante.

Aborto no Brasil: um enfoque demográfico

OBJETIVO: avaliar a prevalência referida de abortamento espontâneo e induzido, em uma amostra de mulheres brasileiras entrevistadas na Pesquisa Nacional sobre Demografia e Saúde (PNDS), de 1996. MÉTODOS: análise secundária do banco de dados da PNDS de 1996 no Brasil, com informações de entrevistas com uma amostra representativa de 12.612 mulheres sobre sua vida reprodutiva, abordando a prevalência do abortamento espontâneo e induzido nos últimos cinco anos e os fatores associados para as diversas regiões e o total do país. O plano de amostragem foi implementado com uma estratégia de seleção em dois estágios, um para domicílios e outro para as mulheres. Estimou-se a prevalência de abortamento espontâneo e induzido no Brasil e regiões, e as características sociodemográficas das mulheres foram analisadas em função da experiência de aborto. Um modelo de análise de regressão multinomial foi utilizado para identificar os fatores independentemente associados com os dois tipos de aborto, relatando-se seu OR e respectivo IC95%. RESULTADOS: a prevalência do relato de aborto espontâneo foi de 14% e de induzido, 2,4% para todo o Brasil. O estado com maior prevalência de aborto induzido foi o Rio de Janeiro com 6,5%, seguido pela região Nordeste, com 3,1%. Os locais com menor prevalência foram o estado de São Paulo e a região Sul. Tanto para o aborto espontâneo como para o induzido, a prevalência aumenta com a idade da mulher. Ser da região urbana (OR=1,5; IC95%=1,0-2,3), ter tido mais de um filho vivo (OR=2,2; IC95%=1,5-3,2), e não ser de cor/raça branca (OR=1,4; IC95%=1,0-1,8) foram os principais fatores de risco para o aborto induzido. CONCLUSÕES: os fatores de risco não-modificáveis para abortamento induzido identificados neste estudo apontam para a necessidade de ações educativas e anticonceptivas priorizadas para esses grupos demográficos específicos.

Computed tomography image of the mediastinal and axillary lymph nodes in clinically sound Rottweilers

Trough computed tomography (CT), it is possible to evaluate lymph nodes in detail and to detect changes in these structures earlier than with radiographs and ultrasound. Lack of information in the veterinary literature directed the focus of this report to normal aspects of the axillary and mediastinal lymph nodes of adult dogs on CT imaging. A CT scan of 15 normal adult male and female Rottweilers was done. To define them as clinically sound, anamnesis, physical examination, complete blood count, renal and hepatic biochemistry, ECG, and thoracic radiographs were performed. After the intravenous injection of hydrosoluble ionic iodine contrast medium contiguous 10mm in thickness thoracic transverse images were obtained with an axial scanner. In the obtained images mediastinal and axillary lymph nodes were sought and when found measured in their smallest diameter and their attenuation was compared to musculature. Mean and standard deviation of: age, weight, body length and the smallest diameter of the axillary and mediastinal lymph nodes were determined. Mean and standard deviation of parameters: age 3.87±2.03 years, weight 41.13±5.12, and body length 89.61±2.63cm. Axillary lymph nodes were seen in 60% of the animals, mean of the smallest diameter was 3.58mm with a standard deviation of 2.02 and a minimum value of 1mm and a maximum value of 7mm. From 13 observed lymph nodes 61.53% were hypopodense when compared with musculature, and 30.77% were isodense. Mediastinal lymph nodes were identified in 73.33% of the dogs; mean measure of the smallest diameter was 4.71mm with a standard deviation of 2.61mm and a minimum value of 1mm, and a maximum value of 8mm. From 14 observed lymph nodes 85.71% were isodense when compared with musculature and 14.28% were hypodense. The results show that it is possible to visualize axillary and mediastinal lymph nodes in adult clinically sound Rottweilers with CT using a slice thickness and interval of 10mm. The smallest diameter of the axillary and mediastinal lymph nodes not surpassed 7mm and 8mm respectively. Their attenuations were equal or smaller than that of musculature in the post contrast scan.

Prevalence of BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations in families with medium and high risk of breast and ovarian cancer in Brazil

Of all malignant neoplasias affecting women, breast cancer has the highest incidence rate in Brazil. The objective of the present study was to determine the frequency of genetic modifications in families with medium and high risk for breast and ovarian cancer from different regions of Brazil. An exploratory, descriptive study was carried out on the prevalence of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in case series of high-risk families for breast and/or ovarian cancer. After heredogram construction, a blood sample was taken and DNA extraction was performed in all index cases. The protein truncation test was used to screen for truncated mutations in exon 11 of the BRCA1 gene and in exons 10 and 11 of the BRCA2 gene. Of the 612 individuals submitted to genetic testing, 21 (3.4%), 19 women and 2 men, had mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. Of the 19 BRCA1 mutations found in the 18 participants, 7 consisted of ins6kb mutations, 4 were 5382insC, 3 were 2156delGinsCC, 2 were 185delAG, 1 was C1201G, 1 was C3522T, and 1 was 3450del4. With respect to the BRCA2 gene, 3 mutations were found: 5878del10, 5036delA and 4232insA (one case each). The prevalence of germline mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes found in the present study was lower than reported by other studies on high-risk Brazilian populations. The inclusion of individuals with medium risk may have contributed to the lower prevalence observed.

Correlation between total nitrite/nitrate concentrations and monoamine oxidase (types A and B) and semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase enzymatic activities in human mesenteric arteries from non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic patients

The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between total nitrite/nitrate concentrations (NOx) and the kinetic parameters of monoamine oxidase enzymes (MAO-A and MAO-B) and semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) in human mesenteric arteries. Arteries were from non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic patients with sigmoid or rectum carcinoma for whom surgery was the first option and who were not exposed to neo-adjuvant therapy. Segments of human inferior mesenteric arteries from non-diabetic (61.1 ± 8.9 years old, 7 males and 5 females, N = 12) and type 2 diabetic patients (65.8 ± 6.2 years old, 8 males and 4 females, N = 12) were used to determine NOx concentrations and the kinetic parameters of MAO-A, MAO-B and SSAO by the Griess reaction and by radiochemical assay, respectively. The NOx concentrations in arteries from diabetic patients did not differ significantly from those of the non-diabetic group (10.28 ± 4.61 vs 10.71 ± 4.32 nmol/mg protein, respectively). In the non-diabetic group, there was a positive correlation between NOx concentrations and MAO-B parameters: Km (r = 0.612, P = 0.034) and Vmax (r = 0.593, P = 0.042), and a negative correlation with the SSAO parameters: Km (r = -0.625, P = 0.029) and Vmax (r = -0.754, P = 0.005). However, in the diabetic group no correlation was found between NOx concentrations and the three kinetic parameters of the enzymes. These results suggest an important function of sympathetic nerves and vascular NOx concentrations in arteries of non-diabetic patients. Thus, these results confirm the importance of a balance between oxidants and antioxidants in the maintenance of vascular homeostasis to prevent oxidative stress.

Artificial neural network models for predicting 1-year mortality in elderly patients with intertrochanteric fractures in China

The mortality rate of older patients with intertrochanteric fractures has been increasing with the aging of populations in China. The purpose of this study was: 1) to develop an artificial neural network (ANN) using clinical information to predict the 1-year mortality of elderly patients with intertrochanteric fractures, and 2) to compare the ANN's predictive ability with that of logistic regression models. The ANN model was tested against actual outcomes of an intertrochanteric femoral fracture database in China. The ANN model was generated with eight clinical inputs and a single output. ANN's performance was compared with a logistic regression model created with the same inputs in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and discriminability. The study population was composed of 2150 patients (679 males and 1471 females): 1432 in the training group and 718 new patients in the testing group. The ANN model that had eight neurons in the hidden layer had the highest accuracies among the four ANN models: 92.46 and 85.79% in both training and testing datasets, respectively. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of the automatically selected ANN model for both datasets were 0.901 (95%CI=0.814-0.988) and 0.869 (95%CI=0.748-0.990), higher than the 0.745 (95%CI=0.612-0.879) and 0.728 (95%CI=0.595-0.862) of the logistic regression model. The ANN model can be used for predicting 1-year mortality in elderly patients with intertrochanteric fractures. It outperformed a logistic regression on multiple performance measures when given the same variables.